Blake Medical Center is proud to announce that the Florida Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), an agency of the Department of Defense, announced today that Jody Nader, Nursing...

Screening for Depression

The purpose of screening is early diagnosis and treatment. Screening tests are usually administered to people without current symptoms, but who may be at high risk for certain diseases or conditions.

Screening Guidelines

The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends that primary care doctors screen their adult patients for depression if they have a system in place to support these patients (such as case management or mental health treatment). There are a number of different questionnaires to screen for depression. One example of screening is using two simple questions:

Over the past two weeks, have you felt down, depressed, or hopeless?

Over the past two weeks, have you felt little interest or pleasure in doing things?

The US Preventive Services Task Force also found some indication that office screening tools may be accurate in identifying depressed adolescents aged 12-18 years. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that pediatricians ask questions about depression in routine history-taking throughout adolescence.

Revision Information

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

Screening for depression in adults. US Preventative Services Task Force website. Available at:
http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf09/adultdepression/addeprrs.htm. Published December 2009. Accessed July 31, 2012.

Screening for depression in children and adolescents. US Preventative Services Task Force website. Available at:
http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/uspschdepr.htm.
Published March 2009. Accessed September 4, 2013